Apparatus for harvesting celery and the like



United States Patent lnventors Cyril A. Phelan;

App]. No. Filed Patented Assignee 662,077 Aug. 21, 1967 Dec. 22, 1970Phelan & Taylor Produce Co.,

Oceano, Calif., a corporation of California APPARATUS FOR HARVESTINGCELERY AND Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Attorney-Paul A. WeileinIEFE L ABSTRACT: An agricultural machine for harvesting and a "wingloading on an adjacent transport vehicle row crops, such as US. 171/39,celery, which are characterized by exposed, edible stalks, the[71/62156/327: 171/56 machine having a harvesting vehicle which travelsalong the lnt.Cl A0ld 27/04 crop rows and means on the harvestingvehicle for severing Field of Search 171/29, 39, the exposed stalks inthe rows at ground level and continu- 62, 56, 58; 56/327 'ouslyconveying the severed stalks t0 the transport vehicle.

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6%, a. wade PATENTED utczzlsm SHEET 5 BF 7 wa M0 APPARATUS FORHARVESTING CELERY AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to agricultural machines. More particularly,the invention relates to a combined harvesting and loading machine forharvesting and loading on an adjacent transport vehicle row crops, suchas celery, characterized by exposed, edible stalks.

Celery is commonly grown in generally parallel crop rows from seeds orsprouts which are planted along the crests of raised seed beds separatedby intervening irrigation furrows. In some cases, the seed beds areplanted in such a way as to produce a single row of celery along eachbed, In other cases, the beds are planted to produce two parallel rowsof celery along each bed.

After the celery has grown to maturity, it is harvested by severing theexposed celery stalks near the ground and loading the severed stalksonto a transport vehicle which transports the harvested celery from thefield for subsequent packaging and distribution. In recent years, celeryharvesting has been aided by the development of celery harvestingmachines. Some of these harvesting machines are more accuratelydescribed as celery loading machines. Such a celery loading machine is,in essence, merely a mobile conveyor which is designed to follow celerypickers who slice'and pick the exposed celery stalks by hand and placethe severed stalks on a loading machine. The loading machine thenconveys the severed stalks to a transport vehicle which travels acrossthe field with the harvesting machine. Other celery harvesting machinesare true harvesting machines in thatthey automatically sever and gatherthe exposed celery stalks as they travel along the celery rows. Someharvesting machines of this king, for example, have blades for severingthe celery stalks in a number of adjacent celery rows and means to gripthe severed celery stalks and convey the same to a receiving means.

One problem to which the invention is directed is to provide an improvedharvesting machine of the character described which is operative toautomatically sever the exposed stalks to be harvested, gather thesevered stalks as they are cut, and convey the severed stalks to thetransport vehicle in such a way as to generaily uniformly distribute thestalks over the loading area of the transport vehicle. I

Another problem is to provide an improved rotary stalk gathering orgripping wheel construction for the harvesting machine for gripping thesevered stalks as they are cut and transporting the severed stalks tothe transfer conveyor of the machine.

A further problem is to provide a novel transfer conveyor constructionand a novel loading conveyor construction for the harvesting machine.

A still further problem is to provide a harvesting machine that isadjustable to accommodate harvesting of celery which is grown in eithersingle or double rows.

All of the above problems are met by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present harvesting machine is characterizedby a vehicle which travels along the rows of celery to be harvested,severing means for severing the exposed celery stalks at ground level,gathering means for gathering the severed stalks as they are cut, anelevated loading conveyor for conveying the severed stalks from theharvesting machine to an adjacent transport vehicle which-travels withthe harvesting machine along the celery rows, and a transfer conveyorfor conveying the severed stalks from the gathering means to the loadingconveyor. Other aspectsof the invention are concerned with variousimproved components of the overall harvesting machine, including a novelrotary, severed stalk gathering or gripping wheel construction for useas the gathering means of the harvesting machine, and novel transfer andloading conveyor constructions for the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a celeryharvesting machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the celery harvesting machine;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1 illustrating,in particular, one of the improved severed stalk gathering or grippingwheels and a portion of the improved transfer conveyor of the harvestingmachine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3 illustratingcertain spreading means which are embodied in the severed stalk grippingwheel for spreading resilient rim members of the wheel at twocircumferentially spaced, stalk harvesting and transfer stations aboutthe wheel;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3 illustrating acelery stalk at the harvesting station of the machine as it is about tobe severed and gripped by a stalk gripping wheel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6-6 in FIG. 3 illustratingthe manner in which the resilient rims of a stalk gripping wheel arespread as they approach the harvesting station to receive therebetween acelery stalk to be harvested;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 4 through thehub of a stalk gripping wheel;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 4 illustratingrim spreading means of a stalk gripping wheel to normal operativeposition;

FIG. 9 is a section, similar to the upper portion of FIG. 4,illustrating the manner in which the spreading means for each stalkgripping wheel of the. harvesting machine may be adjusted to inoperativepositions;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the front end of the presentharvesting machine illustrating the latter conditioned for harvestingcelery which is grown in single rows;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line ill-I1 in FIG. 2through the loading conveyor of the harvesting machine;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of theloading conveyor taken online 12-12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line I3 13of FIG. 11 through the transfer conveyor and loading conveyor of theharvesting machine; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic circuit diagram of a hydraulic system embodied inthe harvesting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Arrangement (FIGURES 1,2, and 10) In the drawings, the celery harvesting machine 20, comprises,in general terms, a harvesting vehicle 22 having a frame 24 supported onfront and rear wheels 26 and 28 for movement of the vehicle along therows 30 containing the crops 32 to be harvested, in this instancecelery. MOunted upon the harvesting vehicle 22 are crop severing means34, located at a lower harvesting station 36 of the machine, forsevering the exposed celery stalks approximately at ground level, andcombined severed stalk gathering and conveying means 38 for gatheringthe severed celery stalks as they are cut at the harvesting station andtransporting the severed stalks from the harvesting station to anelevated discharge station 40 which is located a substantial distanceabove ground level and from which the severed stalks are discharged fromthe harvesting machine to a transport vehicle 42 (FIG. 1) located belowthe latter station. This transport vehicle travels in unison with theharvesting machine along the rows of celery to be harvested and, whenfilled to capacity, transports the harvested celery from the field forsubsequent packaging and distribution. The gathering-conveyor means 38of the harvesting machine comprise severed stalk gathering or grippingmeans it, a transfer conveyor 46, and a loading conveyor 48. The stalkgathering means 4 5 are effective to grip the severed celery stalks atthe harvesting station 36 as the stalksare cut by the severing means 34and to transport the severed'stalks from the latter station to thetransfer conveyor 46. The transfer conveyor transports the stalks fromthe gathering means 44 to the load ing conveyor 48. The loadingconveyor, in turn, transports thestalks to the discharge station 40 ofthe harvesting machine. As will appear from the ensuing description, aunique feature of the invention resides in the fact that the loadingconveyor is movable or adjustable relative to the harvesting machine insuch a way as to effect generally uniform loading of the harvested'celery onto the transport vehicle 42. An additional feature of theillustrated harvesting machine is that it has a second alternatedischarge station 40a located at the opposite end of the loadingconveyor 48 andat the opposite side of the harvesting machine from thestation 40, and the loading con-. veyor is reversible to convey thesevered celery stalks to either.

station.

The desirability of having the loading conveyor 48'reversible may beunderstood when it is considered that when the harvesting machineis inoperation one sideof the machine is adjacent the unharvested crop andtheopposite side of the harvesting machine is in the area thathas alreadybeen harvested and, of course the accompanying transport vehicle 42 isalso in the area that has already been harvested. If the harvestingmachine traverses the length of a field and then turns around totraverse the field in the opposite direction, it is obvious' that theaccompanying transport vehicle would be transferred to the opposite sideof the harvesting machine and that, accordingly, the loading conveyorwould be reversed.

The particular celery harvesting machine illustrated is self-propelled.Tothis end, the rear ground wheels 28 of the harvesting vehicle 22 areactuated by a propulsion engine 50, which is shown to be located at therear end of the machine but may be at any other satisfactory location.The machine has a single from ground wheel 26 which is supported forsteering movement relative to the machine frame 24 and is driven in thissteering movement by steering means 52. The illustrated harvestingmachine has three operator's stations 54, 56, and SSL As willbe'hereinafter explained, these operator's stations are equipped withcontrols to be actuated by operators at the respective stations forcontrolling the various operating mechanisms and functions of themachine.

Briefly, during operation of the present harvesting machine, theharvesting vehicle 22 travels along the rows 30 of celery 32 to beharvested. The transport vehicle 42 travels forwardly with and at thesame speed as the harvesting machine in such a way that the transportvehicle remains in a generally stationary position relative to theharvesting machine, wherein the loading or cargo area of the transportvehicle is located below the discharge station of the harvesting machineto receive the harvested celery from the machine. As the harvestingmachine proceeds along the celery rows 30, the exposed celery stalks aresevered at ground level by the severing means 34 and immediatelygathered or gripped by the stalk gathering or gripping means 44. Thesevered stalks are continuously transported, by the gathering means 44,from the harvesting station 36 to the transfer conveyor 46. The transferconveyor then transports or conveys the harvested celery upwardly fromthe gathering means to the elevated loading conveyor 48. This loadingconveyor transports the harvested celery to the discharge station 40,from which the celery discharges or drops'onto the transport vehicle 42.

Harvesting Vehicle 22 (FIGURES 1.2)

portion 60 of generally open1rectangular configuration and an uprightsupporting frame structure 62 risingfrom'the longitudinal'frameportion60, adjacent the rear end thereof.

As noted earlier, and as is well known in the art, celery and i theother crops which may .be harvested with the aid of the presentharvesting machine. are planted and grown along the crests of raisedseed beds B separated by intervening irrigation ditches or furrowsF. Insome cases, each bed contains two rows 30 of celery, as illustrated inFIG. 1. and in other cases. a single row of celery, as illustrated inFIG. 10. As noted earlier. and hereinafter explained. a feature of thepresent harvesting machine resides in the fact that it may be adjustedor conditioned tolharvest celery which is grown either in singleordoublerows. In accordance with customary practice in harvestingmachines ofthis generaltype, the two rear wheels 28 of the harvestingvehicle'22 are spaced to straddle the seed beds 8' containing the rowsof celery to be harvested and to ride in the furrows F located outboardof these rows. The rear wheels of the illustrated machine', for example,are disposed. to straddle two seed beds. The single front wheel 26 ofthe harvestingmachine is centered relative to the rear wheels and isthereby located to ride in the intervening furrow between the two seedbeds straddled by the rear'wheels. It will now be understood, therefore,thatthe' celery harvesting machine 20 is adapted to travel along therows 30 of celery to be harvested without causing damage to the celery.

At the forward end of the longitudinal frame portion 60 of theharvesting vehicle frame 24 are a pair of elevated, horizontaltransverse frame members 64. Welded or otherwise rigidly joined to theundersides of these frame members, midway between their ends, is abearing 66 having a vertical axis which passes midway between the framemembers. The front steering wheel26 of the harvesting .vehicle isrotatably supported in a yoke 68 rigid on the lower end of a shaft 70which extends upwardly through and is rotatably supported on thebearing.

66. Also fixed to the yoke 68 is a V-shaped crop or stalk deflector 71having a pair of rearwardly extending divergent arms which straddle theyoke, as shown. The upper end of the shaft 70 projects a distance abovethe transverse frame members 76 on the front end of the longitudinalframe portion 60, just rearwardly of the frame members 64. Keyed orotherwise. fixed to the steering wheel support shaft 70, just above theframe member 64, is a collar 78 having a radial torque arm 80. Thesteering means 52 for the front steering wheel 26 comprise a doubleacting hydraulic actuator 82 which is pivotally connected between theouter end of the torque arm 80 and the longitudinal frame portion 60 insuch a way that the steering wheel 26 is turned in one direction inresponse to pressurizing of one end of the actuator cylinder and in theopposite direction in response to pressurizing of the opposite end ofthe.

cylinder. The steering actuator 82 is controlled by a valve 84 situatedat the operator's station 54. it is now evident, therefore, that thefront steering wheel 26 of the harvesting machine may be controlled fromthe operators station 54 to steer the machine as it travels along therows of celery to be harvested.

ln order to aid the operator situated at the station 54 in steering theharvesting machine, the latter is provided with a steering guideincluding a shoe 86 which rides, just ahead of the steering wheel 26, inthe furrow containing the steering wheel. Shoe 86 is pivotally supportedby arms 88 on the steering wheel support yoke 68 and mounts anupstanding guide 90 which is visible from the operating or steeringstation 54.

For reasons which appear presently, it is desirably to cut or top thecelery stalks to a generally uniform height before harvesting of thestalks by the machine. To this end, the harvestingmachine is equippedwith a pair of leading topping cutters 92 located in advance of thefront steering wheel 26. These topping cutters are mounted on arms 94which are attached at their rear ends, to the front end of thelongitudinal frame portion 60. Each cutter includes a horizontal blade96 which is driven on a vertical axis of rotation by a hydraulic motor98, the two hydraulic motors being controlled by a two-position CropSevering Means 34 (FIGURES 1-3, 5, and 6) The crop severing means 34 ofthe illustrated celery harvesting machine comprises a number, shown tobe four, of crop severing units 100a and 1005. These crop severing unitsare essentially identical and differ only in that they are mirror imagesof one another. Accordingly, the various parts of the several units aredesignated by the same reference numerals. Each crop severing unit 100aand 100b comprises an upright supporting bar 102 which seats against therear side of and is adjustably secured by brackets 104 to the forwardtransverse frame member 76 of the longitudinal frame portion 60.Pivotally attached at their forward ends to and extending rearwardlyfrom each supporting bar 102 are a pair of upper and lower hinge arms105 which swing in vertical planes. The hinge arms 105 of each severingunit parallel one another and are pivotally attached at the rear ends toan upright blade mounting bar 106 which parallels the forward uprightsupporting bar 102 of the respective severing unit. It is evident atthis point that the supporting bar 102, hinge arms 105, and blademounting bar 106 of each severing unit together constitute a parallellinkage mechanism-which supports the blade mounting bar for verticalmovement in such a way that the bar remains vertically oriented. Mountedon the lower end of the blade mounting bar 106 of each crop severingunit 100a, 1001: is a crop severing blade 108 rigidly mounting, at oneend, an upstanding plate 110. Each blade plate 110 is rigidly joined toa shaft 112 which extends perpendicularly from the side of the plateopposite its respective blade 108. Each blade shaft 112 extends slidablythrough a bore in the lower end of the corresponding blade support bar106 and is adjustably secured to the bar by a' lock bolt 114. It issignificant to note here that the axis of the blade shaft receiving borein each blade supporting bar 106 extends at an acute angle relative tothe vertical plane of the hinge arms 105 to which the bar is attached.Each blade 108 has a leading cutting or shearing edge 116.

The blade mounting bar 106 of each crop severing unit 1000, 100b extendsa distance above. its respective upper hinge arm 105. Pivotallyconnected between the upper end of each blade mounting bar and the upperend of the forward supporting bar 102 of the respective unit is ahydraulic blade positioning actuator ll8l It will be observed that eachblade positioning actuator 118 may be selectively pressurized tovertically adjust the corresponding crop severing blade 108.

For reasons which will appear presently, the crop severing units 100a,100b are controlled in pairs to adjust the height of their blades 108.To this end, the two hydraulic actuators 118 of the pair of severingunit 1000, 100b at one side of the harvesting machine and the twoactuators of the remaining two units are controlled by valves 120 at theoperator's station 54 and 56 of the machine. Suffice it to say at thispoint that when the severing units are installed on the harvestingmachine, their blades 108 are disposed in horizontal planes with theblade edges 116 extending across the celery rows 30, respectively, atacute angles relative to the direction of travel of the harvestingmachine along the rows. The blades are vertically adjusted to locate thesame approximately at ground level,

In addition to the structure discussed to this point, each crop severingunit a, 100b also preferabiy includes a cutting or so-called colterblade 122 for clearing weeds and other unwanted material from the pathof the machine. These blades are rotatably mounted on thelower hingearms of the severing units for turning on horizontal axes extendingtransversely of the machine. The blades 122 are thus situated in advanceof the harvesting station 36 of the machine. Further, each severing unithas a crop or stalk deflector 124 in the form of a bent plate whichextends forwardly from the lower end of the respective supporting bar102 and then rearwardly along the inner side of the unit in rearwardlydivergent relation thereto, as shown.

Crop Gathering Means 44 (FIGURES 1-10) An important aspect of theinvention is the unique construction and arrangement of the cropgathering means 44 em bodied in the present harvesting machine. Thesecrop gathering means comprise a number, shown as four in FIG. 1 and twoin FIG. 10, of substantially identical crop gathering or gripping unitsor wheels 126. Each gathering or gripping wheel has a central hub 128including a sleeve 130, the ends of which are internally counterbored toreceive ball bearing units 132. Each gathering wheel 126 is made in twosections and each of the two sections includes a corresponding shortaxial tube 134 of rectangular cross section. These two short rectangulartubes 134 are positioned end to end as shown in FIG. 4i and, as shown inFIG. 7, the confronting ends of the two rectangular tubes 134 areinterconnected by a pair of bridging straps 133 and pairs of cap screws133a which extend through the straps into the rectangular tubes. Theouter ends of the two confronting rectangular tubes 134 project adistance beyond the outer ends of the sleeve and mount peripherallyflanged end discs 136. These end discs are welded or otherwise rigidlysecured to the tube 134, just outboard of the ends of the sleeve 130, insuch a way that the disc flanges 138 project axially toward one another.Coaxially surrounding the hub 128 are annular resilient rim members 140,hereinafter referred to simply as rims, which are constructed of arelatively compliant or spongy material, such as foam rubber. As shownbest in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rims 140 are rectangular in cross section andhave generally flat annular confronting gripping faces which aredisposed to abut one another when the rims occupy the positionsillustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 5. Extending between the hub128 and the rims 140 are a number of generally uniformly angularlyspaced, resilient spokes 142. These spokes are secured at their innerends to the hub and at their outer ends to the rims. The outer rim endsof the spokes are resiliently yieldable in the axial direction of thewheel to accommodate relative movement of the rims 140 between theirseparated or open positions illustrated in FIG. 4 and their closedpositions illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 5. The spokes arestressed to yieldably urge the rims toward and retain the rims in theirclosed positions.

Spokes 142 may be constructed in various ways. In the drawings, eachspoke 142 comprises four leaf springs 1420, 142b, 142e, and 142d ofprogressively increasing length. The inner ends of the spring leafs areflush with one another, whereby the outer ends of the spring leafs arelocated at progressively greater distances from the axis of the hub 128.The inner ends of the several spring leafs of each spoke M2 extendthrough a radial slot in the rim flange 133 of the adjacent hub end disc136 and are secured to the latter by a fastener 144. The outer end ofthe long leaf 142:! of each spoke is bent to normally assume thegenerally radial disposition illustrated in the upper portion of FIG. 5and is secured to the outer surface of the adjacent gripping rim 140 byrivets 146. It is obvious at this point that the spokes 142 have maximumstifi'ness at their inner ends and minimum stiffness at their outerends, whereby the spokes accommodate resilient yielding movement of therims 140 between their open and closed positions.

For reasons which will appear presently, it is desirable to resilientlyreinforce the rims 140 in the regions between the adjacent spokes 142.To this end, each illustrated crop gathering or gripping wheel 126 isequipped with a number of circumferentially extending coil springs 148which extend along the outer surfaces of the rims between and areterminally secured to the adjacent spokes. These springs serve to exertaxial resilient inward pressure against the rims and thereby yieldablyresist axial outward deflection of the rims in the regions between thespokes.

Operation of the present harvesting machine requires the rims 140 ofeach crop gathering of gripping wheel 126 to be spread to their openpositions of FIG. 4 as these rims approach the harvesting station 36 anda following transfer station 150 of the machine and to be released forreturn to their closed positions of FIG. 5 as the rims emerge from eachof these stations. To this end, each crop gathering wheel is equippedwith rim spreading means 152 for spreading and releasing the rims of therespective wheel, in the manner just explained. The illustrated rimspreading means 152 of each wheel 126 comprise upper and lower sets 154,156 of rim spreading rollers 158. The rollers of each roller set 154,156 are rotatably mounted on the outboard ends of a bracket arm 160which extends parallel to the rotation axis of the wheel and is rigidlyjoined, midway between its ends, to a sleeve 162 extending normal to andradially in from the arm. As may be best observed in FIGS. 3 and 4, thehub arms 164, and hence the roller sets 154, 156 of each crop gatheringwheel 126 are nearly diametrically opposite one another, being 170apart.

Each bracket sleeve 162 is rotatably telescoped over the outer end of acorresponding arm 164 extending radially out from the wheel hub 128.Each bracket sleeve 162 is releasably secured to its respective hub arm164 by a cross pin 169 which may be removed to permit rotation of thecorresponding roller set 154, 156, as the case may be, between itspositions of F lGS. 4 and 9. Each of the hub arms 164 has a diametricalbore 165 in the plane of rotation and near the outer end of the hub arm.In addition, each hub arm 164 has a second diametrical bore 166 that isperpendicular to the bore 165 and is spaced radially inwardly of thewheel 126 from the bore 165. Each of the bracket sleeves 162 is providedwith a single diametrical bore 168. The two bores 165 and 166 of the hubarm and the single diametrical bore 168 of the bracket sleeve 162cooperate with a removable pin 169 to permit the corresponding rollerset 154 or 156 to be placed in either an operative position or aninoperative position.

At the operative position of the roller set 154 or 156 the correspondingbracket sleeve 162 is in the position shown in FIG. 4 with the pin 169extending through the diametrical bore 168 of the bracket sleeve 162 adthrough the bore 165 of the hub arm 164. At the alternate inoperativeposition of a roller set 154 or 156 shown in FIG. 9, the correspondingroller set 154 or 156 is turned into the plane or rotation and thecorresponding bracket sleeve 162 is retracted radially of the wheel 126with the pin 169 extending through the bore 168 of the bracket sleeveand the bore 166- of the hub arm. At this time, as may be seen in FIG.9, the roller set 154 or 156 is inside the wheel structure and is spacedfrom the pair of rims 140 and from the spokes 142.

The roller sets 154, 156 of each crop gathering or gripping wheel 126are located adjacent the radial inner edges of the gripping rims 140 onthe wheel. Secured to the rims, axially inward of the spokes 142, arecircular tracks 170 which engage the adjacent rollers 158. These tracksare shown to comprise annular hard rubber rings having radially innerannular beads of generally circular cross section which complement andengage within peripheral grooves in the rollers.

The several stalk gripping wheels 126 are coaxially supported on an axle172 which extends slidably through and has a rectangular cross sectioncomplementing the inner rectangular cross section of the central wheeltubes 134. Axle 172 is generally horizontal and extends crosswise of theharvester frame 24 directly above the crop severing blades 108. Theoutboard ends of the axle 172 are rotatably supported in verticallyadjustable bearing carriages 174 (FIG. 2) in such a way that the axlemay be removed axially from the harvesting machine to permit the wheels12 6 to be removed from and installed on the axle.

As heretofore noted, the structure of each gathering wheel 126 includesa pair of rigidly interconnected rectangular tubes 134 which embrace theaxle 172 of square cross section. Thus, each wheel is effectively keyedto the axle 172 and at the same time may be adjusted longitudinally ofthe axle. Each gathering wheel126 is confined at a desired positionalong the axle 172 by spacer sleeves 173 on opposite sides of thegathering wheel.

it is apparent that one set of spacer sleeves 173 may be substituted foranother set for the purpose of changing the position of a gatheringwheel along the axle. Preferably, the spacer sleeves 173 which are ofrectangular cross section are longitudinally split sleeves, the halvesof which are releasably interconnected by suitable bolts (not shown).Such an arrangement of split spacer sleeves makes it a simple matter tosub stitute one set of spacer sleeves for another.

It is desirable to make the previously mentioned cap screws 133aaccessible through the surrounding larger hub sleeve of the gatheringwheel structure. For this purpose the hub sleeve 130 of each gatheringwheel is provided with radial openings 186 in alignment with the capscrews 133a, respectively. These access openings 186 in each grippingwheel are normally covered by split clamp brackets 188 which normallyrigidly secure the rim spreading roller support arms 164 to the wheelhub 128. i

As will appear from the ensuing description, proper operation of thecrop gathering means 44 requires the stalk gripping wheels 126 to bedriven in rotation in such a way that the gripping rims of the wheelstravel through the harvesting station 36 of the machine in a directionopposite to the direction of travel of the harvesting machine and at aperipheral speed approximating the forward speed of the machine. To thisend, the harvesting machine is equipped with drive means 190 for drivingthe wheels in rotation in this fashion. The illustrated drive means 190comprise a sprocket chain 192 which is trained about a sprocket 194keyed on the wheel axle. 172 and an idler sprocket 196 rotatablysupported on the harvester frame24 between the gripping wheels and therear harvester ground wheels 28. Keyed to and rotatable with thesprocket 196 is a sprocket 198 around which and a sprocket 200 on ashaft 202 is trained a sprocket chain 204. Shaft 202 is rotatablysupported on and extends transversely of the harvester frame 24, adistance forwardly of the rear wheels 28. Keyed on the end of the shaft202, remote from the sprocket 200, is a sprocket 206. A sprocket chain208 is trained about the sprocket 206 and a sprocket 210 fixed on therear drive axle for the rear harvester wheels 28. The shaft 202 isprovided with a spring loaded manually operable oneway ratchet clutchshown at 211 in F IG. 1 which automatically disengages if the machineisreversed or backed in the field. This clutch may be disengaged to idlethe gathering wheels 126 whenever desired. It is now evident, therefore,that the several stalk gripping wheels 126 of the harvesting machine aredriven in rotation in unison from the rear drive axle 212. The grippingwheel drive means 190, which may be more accurately described as a powertransmission, will be observed to be arranged in such a way that thegripping rims 140 of the gripping wheels 126 rotate through theharvesting station 36 of the harvesting machine in a direction oppositeto the direction of forward travel of the machine. Obviously, since thewheels are driven from the rear drive axle 212 of the harvester vehicle22, the rotary speed of the gripping wheels, and hence the peripheralspeed of the gripping wheel rims 140 through the harvesting station 36,are constantly proportional to the forward speed of the vehicle. Theseveral sprockets of the gripping wheel drive means or powertransmission 190 are so dimensioned that this peripheral speed of thegripping wheel rims through the harvesting station closely approximatesthe forward speed of the harvesting vehicle. It is now evident,therefore, that the gripping rims 140 of the stalk gripping wheels 126are effectively stationary relative to the ground as they travel throughthe harvesting station 36 of the machine. v

As noted earlier, the resilient gripping rims 140 of the stalk grippingwheels 126 are spread and then released by the rim spreading means 152as the rims approach and then emerge from the harvesting station 36 andthereafter as the rims approach and emerge from the transfer station150. To this end, the rim spreading means for each wheel include, inaddition to the structure already explained, a bar 213a which isremovably fitted at one end within and extends radially out from onebracket sleeve 162 of the spreading means. The outer end of this bar isselectively insertable through a number of socket sleeves 213b fixed toa transverse frame member 2136 on the harvester frame 24. The rimspreading means are thus releasably. secured against rotation with thecorresponding gripping wheel 126, and the rollers 158 on the spreadingmeans are effective to spread and release the wheel rims 140 as thelatter rotate past rollers. According to the present invention, the rimspreading means 152 are secured in a fixed position wherein the axes oftheir several rim spreading rollers 158 are located in a common planecontaining the common gripping wheel axis which slopes downwardly in theforward direction of the harvesting machine at an angle of about 45relative to the horizontaL as shown. The rollers of the lower rollersets 156 are thereby located to spread the gripping wheel rims 140 asthe latter approach the harvesting station 36 and in such a way that therims tend to return to their closed positions of contact with oneanother as they rotate through the lowermost positions on the grippingwheels. The rollers of the upper roller sets 154 are located to respreadthe wheel rims 140 as the latter approach the transfer station 150, andto release the rims for return to their closed positions as the rimsemerge from the latter station.

During operation of the harvesting machine as it is thus far described,the harvesting vehicle 22 and the transport vehicle 40 are driven alongthe celery rows 30 to be harvested. The stalk gripping wheels 126 arethereby driven in rotation in such a way that the wheel rims 140 travelthrough the harvesting station 36 of the machine in a rearward directionand at a peripheral speed approximating the forward speed of theharvesting machine. The motors 98 for the topping cutters 96 areenergized to drive the topping cutters 96 in rotation. These cutters arethen effective to cut or top the celery stalks 32 to a uniform height asthey effectively approach the harvesting station 36 of the machine. Aswill appear presently, the gripping wheels 126 are axially positionedalong their supporting axle 172 in such a way that wheels are alignedwith the celery rows 30, respectively, to be harvested. The severingunits 34 are positioned to have their blades 108 approximately at groundlevel and extending across the celery rows.

During movement of the harvesting machine along the celery rows, thetopped celery stalks 32 in the rows effectively enter the harvestingstation 36 of the machine in successive fashion. Thereafter, the stalkenters the gap 1260 which exists between the rims 140 of the adjacentgripping wheel 126 at the harvesting station and is simultaneouslysevered at ground level by the corresponding crop severing blade. Theforward travel of the harvesting machine then causes the convergingportions of the gripping wheel rims at the trailing end of the rim gap126a to immediately grip therebetween the severed stalk. The stalk isnow transported rearwardly and upwardly by the corresponding grippingwheel 126 to the transfer station 150. Respreading of the gripping wheelrims 140 at this transfer station releases the stalk from its grippingwheel, whereupon the stalk drops by gravity onto the receiving end ofthe transfer conveyor 46, as explained later. The above topping,severing, and gathering or gripping action, of course,

ill

is typical of each celery row 3f). As explained below, the cropdeflectors 71, 124 guide the celery stalks 32 into their respectivegripping wheel rim gaps 1260.

Transfer Conveyor 46 (FIGURES l-3, 11, 13)

It will be recalled that a further aspect of the invention is concernedwith the unique construction and arrangement of the transfer conveyor 46which transports the severed or bar vested celery stalks from the stalkgathering or gripping means 44 to the loading conveyor 48. This transferconveyor has an elongate frame 214 which extends in a fore'and-afldirection of the harvester frame 24 and inclines upwardly in thedirection of its rear'end. Rotatably supported on the lower front endand upper rear end of the conveyor frame 214, and extending transverselyof this frame, are shafts 216 and 218 mounting sprockets 220 at theoutboard ends. Trained about the sprockets are a pair of sprocket chains222. Conveyor frame 214 is pivotally supported at 224 on the rearupstanding frame structure 62 for vertical swinging movement of thelower front end of the transfer conveyor to adjust the clearance betweenthe latter conveyor and the gripping wheels 126. The transfer conveyor46 is adjusted by hydraulic adjusting means 226 including a hydraulicactuator 228 having a cylinder pivotally attached to the harvester frame24. The actuator plunger is pivotally attached to one arm 230 of a bellcrank 232 pivoted on the frame 24. Thisbell crank has a remaining pairof arms located adjacent opposite sides of the conveyor frame 214 andpivotally attached by links 236 to the latter frame. It is now evident,therefore, that the actuator 228 may be pressurized to selectively raiseand lower the front end of the transfer conveyor 46. This actuator iscontrolled by a valve 238 at the operator's station 56.

Extending between and secured to the conveyor chains 222 of the transferconveyor 46 are a number of parallel, uniformly spaced flight bars 240.A web 242 of thin, flexible material, such as canvas, is trained aboutthe outside of the flight bars 240. A web 242 of thin, flexiblematerial, such as canvas, is trained about the outside of the flightbars 240. This web is wrapped around and stitched together inwardly ofeach flight bar, asshown, to join the web to the flight bars. The lengthof the web is substantially greater than the length of the conveyorchains 222 and is joined to the flight bars in such a way that thelength of the web section 242a between each pair of adjacent flight barsis substantially greater than the spacing between the bars on the upperand lower linear runs of the conveyor chains 222. As a consequence, theweb sections 242a are relatively slack, whereby those web sectionstravelling along the upper runs of the conveyor chains are conditionedto form pockets for containing the severed celery stalks 32, as may bebest observed in FIGS. 3 and 13. Extend ing along and rising aboveopposite sides of the conveyor frame 214 are walls 244. The lower endsof these walls terminate closely adjacent the stalk gripping wheels 126and have their lower marginal portions bent inwardly slightly, as shownbest in FIG. 1. The upper ends of the walls terminate above the upperconveyor sprockets 220, as shown best in H0. 2.

Mounted at the upper end of the transfer conveyor is a hydraulic motor246 for driving the transfer conveyor chains 222 in the directionindicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 13. This motor is controlled by avalve 247 located at the operators station 56.

At this point, it is significant to recall that the blades 108 of thesevering means'34 are adjusted to' sever the celery stalks 32approximately at ground level, and that the rim spreading rollers 154,156 of the stalk gripping wheels 126 are effective to spread and thenrelease the resilient gripping rims Mil of the wheels as these rimsapproach and then emerge from the harvesting station 36 and thefollowing transfer station 156 in such a way that the severed celerystalks are gripped by the stalks are then transported upwardly by thetransfer conveyor and, upon reaching the upper end of the conveyor, are

discharged onto the underlying loading conveyor 48, in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 13. the lower end of the transfer conveyor isvertically adjusted, by the hydraulic conveyor adjustment means 226, sothat the upper run of the conveyor just clears the lower ends of thesevered celery stalks advancing toward the transfer station 150 on thegripping wheels 1126.

Loading Conveyor 48 (FIGURES 1, 2, ll--l3) The loading conveyor 48 ofthe illustrated harvesting machine comprises a horizontal frame 248which extends transversely of the machine in an elevated positionbetween the rear operator's station 58 and the rear upper end of thetransfer conveyor 46. Conveyor frame 248 includes a pair of longitudinalside frame members or channels 250 rigidly joined to one another bycross frame members 252. The side channels 250 have outwardly directedupper and lower flanges 254. Rotatably supported on brackets 256 rigidlyattached to the rear, upstanding conveyor frame structure 62 at oppositesides of the loading conveyor frame 248, arerollcrs 258 which projectbetween the flanges 254 on the adjacent conveyor frame side channels250. These rollers support the conveyor frame 248 for horizontal endwiseextension and retraction relative to and laterally of the harvestingmachine, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 11. Hydraulicoperating means 260 are provided for selectively extending andretracting the conveyor frame.

Operating means 260 comprise a pair of hydraulic actuators 262 eachincluding a cylinder 264 and a plunger 266 movable in the cylinder. Asshown best in FIGS. 2 and 11, the actuators 262 are located below theloading conveyor frame 248, midway between the side channels 250 of thisframe, and are spaced lengthwise of the frame. The lower ends of theactuatof cylinders 264 are pivotally attached to the harvester vehicle24, at opposite sides of the rear operator's station 58. Connected bylinks 268 to the outer end of the plunger 266 of each actuator are apair of movable sheaves 270. Associated with each actuator 262 are apair of fixed sheaves 272. The f xed sheaves 272 are attached, by links274, to the upstanding frame structure 62, below the center of theloading conveyor frame 248 and between the conveyor roller supportbrackets pressurizing the conveyor actuators 262 in such a way as toretractthe plunger 266 of one actuator into its cylinder 264 and extendthe plunger of the other actuator from its cylinder. For example,pressurizing of the actuators in such a way as to retract the plunger ofthe left hand actuator and extend the plunger of the right hand actuatorin FIG. 11 drives the conveyor frame 248 to the right in the figure.Similarly, pressurizing of the actuators in such a way as to retract theplunger of the right hand actuator and extend the plunger of the lefthand actuator drives the conveyor frame to the left in the figure. It isfurther evident that the sheaves 270, 272 and cables 276 whichoperatively connect the actuators 262 to the conveyor frame 248constitute, in effect, motion amplifying means which are effective totranslate relatively small linear motions of the actuator plungers 266into substantially greater linear motion of the frame. The conveyoractuators 262 are controlled by a valve 280 located at the operatorsstation 58.

Extending between and rotatably supported at their ends on the conveyorframe side channels 250, for turning on axes normal to these channels,are a number of rollers 290. 'An endless conveyor belt 292 is trainedabout and supported for endwise movement by the rollers 290. The roller290 at the left hand end of the conveyor frame 248 in FIG. 11 isterminally sup ported in bearings 294 (only one shown) which areslidably mounted in longitudinal guides 296 on the frame for lateraladjustment of the roller in the endwise direction of the frame.Operatively connected between these bearings and the conveyor frame arescrews 298 (only one shown)for adjusting the roller endwise of the frameto regulate the tension in the conveyor belt 292. Mounted on theopposite end of the conveyor frame 248 is a reversible hydraulic motor300 which is drivably coupled, through a transmission 302, to theadjacent conveyor roller 290 for driving the latter in rotation andthereby driving the conveyor belt 292 in its endwise direction. Motor300 is controlled by a valve 304 located at the operators stationS8.-Valve 304 is selectively positionable to both start and stop'theconveyor motor 300, as well as to reverse the direction of the motorand, thereby, the direction of endwise movement of the conveyor belt292. Welded or otherwise rigidly joined to and substantially coextensivewith the side channels 250 of the conveyor frame 248 are side walls 306,308 which rise above the upper run of the conveyor belt 292. The forwardsidewall 308 is somewhat lower than the rear sidewall in order to clearthe adjacent end of the transfer conveyor 46.

As may be best observed in FIGS. 1 and 13, the upper rear end of thetransfer conveyor 46 is located substantially over the longitudinalcenter line of the loading conveyor 48. During operation of theharvesting machine 20, the severed celery stalks 32 on the transferconveyor move upwardly with and around the upper end of this conveyor toa position approximating that occupied by the left hand stalkillustrated in FIG. 13, at which point the stalks are released to dropby gravity from the transfer conveyor onto the underlying conveyor belt292 or the loading conveyor 48. An important feature of the inventionresides in the fact that the spacing between the flight bars 240 of thetransfer conveyor diminishes, and the slack in the interveningpocket-forming web sections 242a increases, during movement of theflight bars and web sections about the upper endof the transferconveyor. This increased slack in the web sections increases the depthof the pockets defined by the web sections. At the same time, since thepockets hang towards the center of the sprocket 220, the pockets slowdown. As a result of the momentary deepening and slowing down of theslack conveyor pockets, the stalks are not thrown outwardly bycentrifugal force beyond the rear side of the loading conveyor 48. As aconsequence, all of the severed stalks drop by gravity from the transferconveyor onto the underlying loading conveyor. The latter conveyor thentransports the stalks toward one end or the other end thereof, dependingupon the direction of movement of the conveyor belt 292.

Hydraulic System (FIGURE 14) The harvester hydraulic system, which isshown in FIG. 14, is generally conventional and thus need not beexplained in detail. Suffice it to say that this hydraulic system has ahydraulic fluid reservoir 312 mounted on the harvester vehicle 22, andhydraulic pumping means for pumping hydraulic fluid under pressure fromthe reservoir to the various control valves of the harvesting machine.The particular hydraulic system illustrated has four separate pumps 314,316, 318, and 319 for this purpose. Pump 314 supplies hydraulic fluidunder pressure to the valve 84 which controls the front steering wheelactuator 82, to the valves 120 which control the severing bladepositioning actuators 118, valve 238 which controls the transferconveyor position actuator 228, and the valve 280 which controls theloading conveyor actuators 262. Pump 316 supplies hydraulic fluid underpressure to the valve 304 which controls the loading conveyor drivemotor 300, and pump 318 supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to thetwo-position valve 247 which controls the transfer conveyor drive motor246. Finally, pump 319 supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to thevalve 99 that controls the hydraulic motors 98 of the two toppingcutters 92. An accumulator 321 absorbs extreme pressures that would bedeveloped in the event that the topping blades were to strike a tree orsomething hard enough to suddenly stop the topping blade motors; In FIG.14, only the high pressure lines leading from the pumps to the valvesare illustrated. It will be understood that the actual hydraulic systemof the harvesting machine will be equipped with low pressure fluidreturn lines for returning the fluid from the valves to the hydraulicfluid reservoir 312. Each valve of the hydraulic system has threepositions, to wit, a: closed position and two open positions. Movementof each valve from one open position to the other reverses the hydraulicfluid connections to its respective'hydraulic actuator or motor, as thecase may be, to reverse the direction of movement of the actuator 01'l'lIOtOI'.

Operation As noted earlier, the present harvesting machine may beutilized to harvest celery or other similar crops which are grown ineither single or double rows 30 to each seed bed B. In each case, thesevering units 100a, 100b'and gripping wheels 126 are adjusted laterallyof the harvesting vehicle 22 to locate the blades 108 of the severingunits 'in proper stalk severing relation to the celery rows and thegripping wheels in proper stalk gripping relation to the rows. In thisregard, attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and which illustrate,respectively, the harvesting machineconditioned to harvest double andsingle rows of celery. When harvesting double rows of celery, theharvesting machine utilizes four stalk severing units and four stalkgripping wheels. The four gripping wheels 126 are adjusted along theirsupporting axle 172, in the manner explained earlier, to positionswherein the medial planes of the wheels, i.e., planes normal to therotation axis of the wheels and passing midway between the respectivewheel rims 140, are approximately aligned with the longitudinal centerlines of the four celery rows 30, respectively, along the two seedbedsstraddled by the harvesting machine. The four stalk severing units 100a,100b, are adjusted to the position of FIG. 1, wherein it will beobserved that two of the units are situated between the two innergripping wheels and the two remaining units are situated outboard of thetwo outer gripping wheels, The blade 108 of each outer severing unitextends inwardly across and at an acute angle relative to the medialplane of its adjacent gripping wheel. The blade of each inner severingunit extends outwardly across and at an acute angle relative to themedial plane of its adjacent gripping wheel. Each severing unit isvertically adjusted, by means of its'respective vertical positioningactuator 118, to locate its blade approximately at ground level. To thisend, each severing unit may be equipped with a gage 100: for indicatingthe height'of the corresponding blade relative to the harvester frame24. The stalk gripping wheels 126 are vertically adjusted, by adjustmentof the wheel axle adjustment screws 178, to locate the lowermostportions of the wheel rims 140 a distance above the stalk severingblades 108 which approximates one fifth the height of the exposed celerystalks 32.

It will be recalled that each stalk severing unit 100a, 10012 includes astalk deflector 124. As shown in FIG. 1, the deflecthe inner sides ofthese units in rearwardly converging relation to the medial planes ofthe adjacent outer stalk gripping wheels 126. The deflectors on the twoinner severing units extend rearwardly along the outer sides of theseunits in rearwardly converging relation to the medial planes of theadjacent inner gripping wheels, When'harvesting double row celery, twoadditional stalk deflectors 124a are removably mounted, in anyconvenient way, on the lower frame cross member 76, midway between thepairs of gripping wheels at opposite sides of the harvesting machine.These additional deflectors have rearwardly divergent arms which extendrearwardly in converging relation to the medial planes of the adjacentgripping wheels, as shown. It will be observed that each deflector 124and its adjacent deflectors 124a define a rearwardly narrowing throatleading to the intervening gripping wheel.

If, after prolonged use on double row celery the harvesting machine isto be used only temporarily to harvest single row celery, only minimumnecessary changes and adjustment need be made for the temporary use.Thus, for harvesting single row celery for only a short time, two of thegathering wheels 126 may be displaced along the axle 172 out of the wayand the remaining two gathering wheels may be positioned on the axle foralignment with two corresponding single rows of celery. The two surplussevering units 1000, b may also be rearranged.

If, however, prolonged harvesting of single row celery is anticipated,it becomes worthwhile to-rernove two of the gathering wheels 126 insteadof merely shifting the two gathering wheels out of the way, and it maybe worthwhile to completely remove two of the four severing units. H6.10 shows the position of two gathering wheels 126 when two of the fourgathering wheels are removed, and FIG. 10 further shows how the stalksevering units may be arranged if none of the severing units is removed.As so arranged, the blades 108 of each pair of adjacent severing unitsoverlap one another in oblique relation to one another and in obliquerelation to the radial plane of the intervening gathering wheel 126..

The cutting edges 116 of the overlapping blades cross one anotherapproximately in the latter plane. The blades, of course, are verticallyadjusted to approximately ground level, as before. In this single rowharvesting mode under consideration, the stalk deflectors 1240, referredto earlier in connection with double row harvesting, are omitted, andthe stalk deflectors 124 of each pair of adjacent severing units 100a,1011b together define a rearwardly narrowing throat leading to theintervening gripping wheel 126, as shown.

After the harvesting machine has been thus adjusted for harvesting,either single or double rows of celery, as the case may be, the machineis conditioned for actual harvesting operation by energizing the stalktopping cutter motors 98 to drive the stalk topping cutters 96 inrotation and operating the hydraulic pumps 314, 316, 318, and 319 andthe appropriate hydraulic fluid control valves of the harvesterhydraulic system 310 to effect driving of the transfer conveyor 46 andthe loading conveyor 48. The loading conveyor shifting actuators 262 areoperated to extend the loading conveyor endwise toward the transportvehicle 42 to a position wherein the current discharge end, i.e.,discharge end 40 in FIG. 1, of the loading conveyor overlies thetransport vehicle. it will be understood that the loading conveyor isdriven in a direction such that the upper run of its conveyor belt 292moves toward the current discharge end.

The harvesting vehicle 22 and transport vehicle 42 are now drivenforwardly in unison along the celery rows 30 to be harvested. The stalkgripping wheels 26 are thereby driven in rotation in such a way that thegripping rims of these wheels travel rearwardly through theharvestingstation 36 at a peripheral speed approximating the forwardspeed of the barvesting vehicle. During movement of the harvestingmachine along the celery rows, the exposed celery stalks 32 in theirrespective rows are successively topped to a generally uniform height bythe topping cutters 96, and then enter the harvesting station 36 of themachine. As each stalk approaches this station, it enters between thegripping rims 140 of the adjacent stalk gripping wheel 126, which rimsare spread at the latter station to receive the stalk, as explainedearlier.

, immediately after entering between the spread rims of the adjacentgripping wheel, each celery stalk encounters and is severed at groundlevel by the adjacent stalk severing blade 108 (FIG. 1) or blades (FIG.10).

At this point,it is significant to recall that the resilient grippingrims 140 of the stalk gripping wheels 126 are released to spring back orreturn toward their closed positions of mutual contact as the rimsemerge from the harvesting station 36. The lower rim spreading rollersets 156 are so situated that the returning rims of each gripping wheelenter into initial gripping contact with each intervening celery stalk32 as the latter is severed by the corresponding stalk severing blade,as shown in FIG. 5. This initial gripping contact is established as therims travel through the lowermost positions on the wheel, where the rimsare relatively stationary with respect to the ground. Thus, the grippingwheels do not tend to bend or break the celery stalks as they aresevered. The severed celery stalks are then carried rearwardly andupwardly by the gripping wheels toward the transfer station 150, in amanner best illustrated in FIG. 3. Continued spring return of thegripping rims of each gripping wheel toward their closed positionsduring this rearward and upward travel of the rims causes the latter tofirmly grip the intervening severed stalks, thereby to prevent prematurerelease of the stalks from the wheels.

In connection with this stalk gripping action of the gripping wheels126, it will be recalled that a significant feature of the inventionresides inthe compliant or spongy composition of the wheel rims 140.These compliant or spongy rims have been found to be uniquely capable ofgripping the severed celery stalks without bruising or otherwisedamaging the stalks. Moreover, the spongy rims are capable of yieldinglocally to firmly grip adjacent celery stalks of substantially differentsize. The springs 148 at the outer surfaces of the rims reinforce thelatter in the regions between the gripping wheel spokes 142 in such away as to enable the rims to firmly grip severed stalks within theseregions without adversely effecting the ability of the rims to'yieldlocally into gripping contact with stalks of different size.

Spreading of the gripping wheel rims 140 by the upper spreading rollersets 154 as the rims approach the transfer station 150 released thesevered celery stalks 32 from the gripping wheels 126. The stalks thendrop by gravity onto the underlying receiving end of the transferconveyor 46 and into the stalk receiving pockets formed on the upper rimof the latter conveyor by the slack sections 242a of the conveyor web242. The lower receiving end of the transfer conveyor is verticallyadjusted, by the conveyor positioning actuator 228, to just clear thesevered ends of the celery stalks approaching the transfer station onthe gripping wheels. The severed celery stalksare conveyed upward andrearwardly by the transfer conveyor and eventually drop from the upperend of the latter conveyor onto the underlying loading conveyor 48. inconnection with this discharge of the celery stalks from the transferconveyor to the loading conveyor, it will berecalled that an importantfeature of the invention resides in the fact that the stalk receivingpockets defined by the slack web sections 242a of the transfer conveyorboth increase in depth and momentarily slow down in their travel as theypass around the upper endof the conveyor with the consequence that thestalks when discharged from the transfer conveyor are not duly actedupon by centrifugal force.

After their discharge onto the loading conveyor 48, the severed celerystalks are transported by the latter conveyor to its current dischargeend 40. The stalks then drop by gravity from this latter end of theconveyor onto the transport vehicle 42. A feature of the invention inconnection with the loading conveyor is that this conveyor may beshifted back and forth in its cndwise direction, and the position of thetransport vehicle 42 relative to the harvesting vehicle 22 may beadjusted in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicles. to effectgenerally uniform distribution or loading of the harvested celery stalksover the entire cargo area of the transport vehicle.

When driving the present harvesting machine from one harvesting locationto another, it is desirable to inactivate the rim spreading means 152 ofthe stalk gripping wheels 126. Inactivation of the rim spreading meansis accomplished by removing the arms 2130 which secure the rim spreadingmeans to the harvester frame 24 and by both rotating the spreadingroller sets 154 and 156 from their normal positions and retracting eachspreading roller set radially inwardly from a normal operating positionshown in FlGf4'to' an inner idle position shown in FIG. 9. This reducesthe deformation in the gripping rims and spokes 142 of the grippingwheels and permits the rim spreading roller sets 154, 156 to rotate withthe wheels, thereby to minimize the stress in and wear of the wheels.

While specific structural details have been shown and described, itshould be understood that changes and alterations may be resortedtowithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

We claim:

1. ln a harvesting apparatus for travelling along a row of celery or thelike having upright stalks, wherein means severs the stalks close toground level and means to gather the stalks is in the form of a wheelhaving a pair of flexible rims biased to grip and carry the stalks andwherein spreader means spreads the flexible rims apart locally for thepurpose of gripping and releasing the stalks, the improvementcomprising:

said spreader means being rotatable about the axis of the wheel andbeing retractable radially into the interior of the structure of thewheel;

means to retain said spreader means in a fixed position-in opposition tothe rotation of the wheel to make the wheel effective for gathering andreleasing stalks; and

said retaining means being releasable to free the spreader means forradial retraction when the apparatus travels without harvestingoperation.

2. An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which said spreader meansis of elongated, overall configuration with a major axis and a minoraxis,

said spreader means being rotatable between an operating po ition withits major axis perpendicular to the two flexible rims and an alternateidle position with its minor axis perpendicular to the two rims; and

means to releasably retain the spreader means in its two alternatepositions.

3. An improvement as set forth in claim 1 in which said wheel hascircumferentially spaced radial flexible spokes;

the two rims are annular elastomeric members supported atcircumferentially spaced points by the spokes; and

coil springs interconnect the spokes on the outer side of theelastomeric members to reinforce the elastomeric mem bers.

4. In a harvesting apparatus for travelling along a row of celery or thelike having upright stalks, wherein means severs the stalks closetoground level and means to gather the stalks is in the form of a wheelhaving a pair of flexible rims biased to grip and carry the stalks andwherein spreader means spreads the flexible rims apart locally for thepurpose of gripping and releasing the stalks, the improvementcomprising:

said spreader means comprising a pair of rollers for rolling contactwith the two flexible rims, respectively;

support means carrying the pair of rollers, said support- 5. Harvestingapparatus as set forth in claim 4 which includes:

means carrying the pair of rollers, said carrying means being rotatablymounted on said support means for rotation thereon between a firstposition with the two rollers aligned transversely of the pair offlexible rims and a second position with the two rollers aligned withthe pair of rims for lesser spreading action on the rims;

means effective between said carrying means and said support means toreleasably hold the carrying means in its place the pair of rollersinside the structure of the wheel when the carrying means is in saidsecond position.

